400 Proceedings of Boyal Society of Edinlurgli. [june 18 , 
ance sevenfold. The specific resistance of the undialysed albumin 
was roughly about three times that of a 2 ’5 per cent, solution of 
common salt. 
From these results we conclude that the resistance of pure 
albumin, or albumin free from non-proteid matters, such as inorganic 
salts, is very high; and that the conductivity of ordinary egg- 
albumin is probably due almost entirely to the non-albuminous, 
diffusible matters in it. The details of those, and other analogous 
observations on other proteids, are reserved for a future paper. 
One may notice that Arrhenius has shown, not very long ago, 
that the conductivity of solutions of various salts in water containing 
gelatine is not altered by the setting of the gelatine. 
The analogy of this to the behaviour of egg-albumin is evident. 
Gelatine and albumin are typical members of their respective classes. 
I have not been able to investigate myosin, which is of great 
interest for several reasons ; among others for this, that a charge of 
resistance is said to take place when a muscle passes into rigor 
mortis. One would expect this to be connected not with the coagu- 
lation as such, but with the development of new substances which 
accompanies rigor. 
If we can argue from the case of egg-albumin to that of the other 
colloid proteids, we may look upon it as pretty sure that however the 
voltaic current may afiect the proteid constituents of the normal 
tissues or of morbid growths, it is not by direct electrolytic action 
upon the proteid molecules themselves. Secondary electrolytic action 
resulting from the decomposition of the non-proteid constituents may, 
of course, powerfully affect the condition of the proteids. 
It has been objected from the physical side to the efficacy of 
electrical treatment for the removal of morbid growths, that the 
great resistance must cut down the current so much that its electro- 
lytic effect in actually breaking' down tissue must be inconsiderable. 
The effects observed have, therefore, been attributed by some to 
vasomotor stimulation. This may be correct. But it cannot be too 
strongly insisted upon that in living tissues a small disturbance of 
the equilibrium is often enough to determine the most extensive 
changes. It is quite conceivable that a comparatively small amount 
of electrolysis of non-proteid elements may, either by secondary 
actions or by the disturbance of the obscure relations between 
